-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2006 =- Aggie Whirl: Special interest groups provide connections

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Special interest groups provide connections

By Katharine Ash

Seniors from the NMSU ROTC Program are pictured here with the 2006 NMSU ROTC Honor Company inductees, left to right, James C. Manatt, Charley L. Johnson, Stanley W. Johnston, Rudy Romero and Jack P. Ancker. Photo by Katharine Ash

Retired Lt. Col. Gary Cataldo ’70 and retired Lt. Col. Thomas McCarter’55 have created an alumni group to help the Aggies from the NMSU U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) connect again.

About 200 NMSU AROTC alumni are on active military duty. Their duties require frequent reassignments, both in the U.S. and around the world. Knowing an Aggie is just next door, or at your new assignment, could ease the transition. By creating an AROTC Alumni Web site, these two retired army officers have set out to create an Aggie support system to help these alumni who are miles away from family and the campus.

The AROTC group originally started by working on a reunion, but many saw another need. From a suggestion to host an annual event emerged the AROTC Alumni Group Annual Recognition Dinner.

In March, the Army ROTC Alumni group held the third Annual Recognition Dinner featuring former NMSU President Gerald Thomas. Awards given at the dinner were Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Cadre and Friends of the Corps. Winners of these awards are inducted into the NMSU ROTC Honor Company. This year’s inductees were James C. Manatt ’71, Charley L. Johnson ’61, retired Brig. Gen. Stanley W. Johnston ’51, Master Sgt. Rudy Romero and retired Col. Jack P. Ancker.

Next year there are plans to include a webcast of the dinner – allowing AROTC alumni around the world to watch the reception and feel closer to the AROTC/Aggie family.

“At least once a year, NMSU AROTC graduates can all be together, in different places,” says Cataldo.

Since their creation only a few years ago, the AROTC Alumni group has raised more than $35,000 for scholarships and support for current AROTC cadets at NMSU.

The AROTC alumni group is just one of the special interest alumni groups associated with NMSU. Other alumni groups include alumni program chapters, geographical chapters, alumni interest chapters and organization based groups.

To start or join one of these alumni groups, visit the NMSU Alumni Web site at alum.nmsu.edu. For more information on the AROTC alumni group, visit the alumni link at www.nmsu.edu/~armyrotc.

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